The Use of Alibi

Tonight we was excited to welcome Tom De Paor to the studio to give a the eight Lecture@SAUL lecture entitled ‘The Use of the Alibi’ hosted by Merit Bucholz.



Tom is an established architect who has made his name through out the country and has represented Ireland in Venice Biennale of Architecture. He is the type of architect many admire and respect. His schemes are designed in a modern way while still keep true to Irish heritage.

Those who attend the talk got treated to an insight into Toms passion for architecture and we were introduced to what he himself described as his ‘hobby’ . The devotion, passion and love for this project was real, intense and extremely inspiring.

          
Through the lecture we are brought by him on a tour through the site of his project, a place where he intends to live, work and relax. He has put his heart and sole into reintroducing life into the existing structure yet aiming to preserving the integrity of it while adding to it to create a world of his own. His knowledge of the history of the site and the way in which he talked about the previous inhabitants was a clear indication of the devotion and intense interest he has in the project.

Different from other projects, De Paor has the opportunity to of work on site himself and base much of his design on instinct. As no strict set of drawings were drawn before the work was started and due to the fact much of the design is changing on a constant basis, plans are drawn up after each actions is taken. In an effort to explain the project to the attendees we were taken on a walk with him through his vision, a place that does in fact exist in his imagination but a place that he is determined to carefully and lovingly make into a reality. A series of structures where each detail is thought through and contemplated. Each move is strategically taken and down to the planting everything is planned in an effort to fulfill the vision and house the life that he sees taking place in the spaces.

          

His approach to the design is what he describes as a luxury, a project with no deadline, a project of pure passion and a want to make spaces to fit him and his family. A world built with his own blood sweat and tears. This approach to design was a breath of fresh air and showed the true passion that can be engrained within a design. This limitless attitude in a modern world that is full of limits was truly inspiring and makes for an inspirational architectural venture.

           
Nothing seemed to be a problem as everything is an enjoyable active move to achieve the vision that lies within him. The way he described things brought an ambitious exhilaration and limitless feel to the work he is doing, no mountain was too big and no rock was too heavy,  ‘I took that down, kept that, kept that cause i liked it , infilled it here and infilled here.’ The hours love and passion in this project and his true child like excitement is to be coveted by many and the passion shining through in his talk made for an inspirational night for all.

           

Next weeks Lecture@SAUL lecture will be by Finola O'Kane and is entitled ‘Ireland and the Picturesque’

by Jennifer O'Riordan